This makes that 5 mil westuit worth it (Galapagos Water) - 27, 28, & 29 March 2009

We came to the Galapagos because of the video we saw while we were diving in Palau. It seemed like everywhere you looked, there was something spectacular.

While the checkout dive seemed like a bad omen, it's nearly impossible to have bad thoughts when you're in the water with these:



I know that sounds funny - you're in the water with a school of Hammer-freakin'-head sharks and you can't have bad thoughts, but there's something strangely soothing about watching them move through the water oblivious to your presence. Or more likely, they've just decided that you're not food so you're not worth the trouble.

For all of my posturing, though, I didn't chase the sharks. The rays, however, were another matter:




One would go gliding by and we'd take off after it, burning through our air at a furious rate. It seemed they'd go slower just to toy with us leaving us to wonder how their languid body movements could propel them through the water so fast.

But by far my favorite experience was being in the water with seals. They are curious about you and it's easy to imagine that they're inviting you to play - disappointed when you can't stay down as long as they can, or dive as deep.


On one dive Jen and I stayed at the back of the group and played around with a group of them. They'd jet past us, turning circles, eyeing us upside down. If I could find a "Dive for a week with seals" trip, I'd definitely take it. Bonus points awarded for dolphins and whales as well.